leukemia

This is the story of how a 72-year-old man won a battle with cancer, and how you can help men and women like Richard who are battling cancer.

Self-deprecating and wry, Richard Todd is the kind of man who could only come from the American Midwest. He believes in personal reasonability and the right to make his own happiness. His speech has the gentle laziness of a man who has all the time in the world. On the surface there is nothing particularly striking or heroic about Richard’s brand of quiet dignity. Yet Richard Todd managed to become a medical miracle by beating leukemia in 44 days.

To understand how Richard Todd overcame his illness, you must first understand his story. His recovery wasn’t the result of fabulous genetics, (his father and sister both died of heart failure), perfect health (at 72, he’s already survived two heart attacks), or an amazing HMO. The only thing Richard had on his side was a supportive community to help him, and the healing power of his own faith and positive attitude.

Early this year, Richard Todd was a man in recovery: he had survived his second heart attack, and though his heart was healing, he was still short of breath. Both Richard’s GP and his cardio-pulmonologist found nothing wrong—he seemed completely healthy. But on February 3, Richard came home from church sick, vomiting and nauseated. Recognizing what he thought were the signs of another heart attack, Richard had his wife of 55 years drive him to the emergency room. It was there that the blood tests came back: his white blood count was 132. He had leukemia.

At first Richard’s reaction was one of total disbelief: he told the doctor’s he wouldn’t accept what had been put in his body, and he would be healed. After two bouts with his heart, after watching his mother slowly die of Alzheimer’s, Richard was not about to give up now, after he had worked so hard for health and happiness.

Richard’s sunny outlook was soon clouded over by doubt. Immediately after his diagnosis, Richard came down with acute bronchitis and had to be hospitalized. Then as he was being discharged, his insurance company told him they weren’t going to be covering his cancer therapy. For Richard, this was the first blow that had the power to shake his faith that he would be alright. At $4,000 a month, there was no way to pay for even a fraction of the medical costs. His HMO had abandoned him.

Because of the red tape that surrounds pre-existing HIPA laws, there was no way for Richard’s doctors to advise him on alternative funding for treatment. But help was still able to find Richard, where he least expected it. A devout Pentecostal, Richard has a close-knit relationship with the members of his congregation, all of whom have a deep faith in the power of personal healing. At church the following Sunday, an acquaintance asked Richard if he had heard of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a non-profit group which helps provide financial relief to families battling cancer. Richard was put in contact with a representative from the society who consulted with Richard and his doctor to discuss the best treatment options available. A few days later, Richard was handed a month’s supply of Gleevec, a cutting-edge new drug from Novartis.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy medicines, Gleevec doesn’t target rapidly dividing cells blindly. It’s a drug which is drawn to a particular type of enzyme produced by a particular kind of lymphoma cell. Richard had a hard time taking the drug, knowing how much others had sacrificed so that he might receive a $26 pill. Yet Richard was supremely grateful: a grandfather of 14 and a great-grandfather of 5, he felt as if God was answering his prayers.

What makes organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society so effective is that they allow patients to fully concentrate on recovery. A huge number of cancer patients die from issues only tangentially related to their disease. They die of malnutrition, they die of pneumonia because of their weakened immune system, and they simply give up because they are overwhelmed by the burden of finances and insurance headaches. Optimism and a positive outlook are more than just new-age mantras; they’re just as vital to the success of a patient as a drug like Gleevec. Richard’s insistence that he would indeed survive is one of the reasons that he did. All of his energy was focused on healing his body; everything else was taken care of by his friends, his family, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

April 11, just 44 days after he was diagnosed with leukemia, Richard Todd returned to the hospital for a check up. His doctor was absolutely shocked by the results. In less than two months, Richard’s white blood cell count had gone from 132 to a mere 5.9. The cancer hadn’t just gone into remission; it had been cured. Richard would be around to see the birth of his 6th great-grandchild. Richard Todd had survived.

Richard Todd’s story is one of amazing odds: because of a rare combination of medical support, a fantastic new drug, and a positive attitude, he was able to beat leukemia with astonishing speed. While his results are truly miraculous, it’s easy to see how things could have ended very differently. If Richard had not found the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Kansas City, he would have died months ago.

This story is the reason why Cells for Cells is recycling and supporting groups like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. By helping Richard and his family every step of the way, the Society gave Richard the peace of mind to concentrate on his own health. Asked if he had any advice for those who struggle against the odds, Richard said (with his characteristic bluntness) “Stay positive—if you don’t you’re a fool.”

By donating your old cell phones to Cells for Cells, together, we can help raise money and awareness for those who are battling cancer. Just like with Richard Todd’s story, sometimes little things make all the difference.

Leesa Gabel is a cancer survivor and she hopes that her story will encourage you to stay strong in whatever battle you might be facing.

As of February 17th 2009, Leesa reports that she is entering remission! Even with a few setbacks, like a quick trip to the ER to fight an MSRA Staph infection, she has beaten Leukemia!

This is her awesome story.

Jason: If you could encourage someone right now that is battling cancer, what would you say?

Leesa: You are not alone. There are so many people and organizations out there that are ready and willing to help you throughout your entire ordeal. The kindness and caring of even complete strangers is amazing and will probably overwhelm you. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help….don’t be afraid to admit that you’re scared or that you have questions.

Jason: So, what is the deal with cancer? What do you have? When did you find out? How are you doing right now?

Leesa: I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) on May 28, 2008. It’s the 65-year old man’s disease in a 37- year old woman’s body – it’s kind of the underachiever of leukemia (in my opinion). Finding out was a bit of a relief…I know that’s an odd thing to say….I had been feeling so extremely tired for such a long time (along with other symptoms) and my doctor kept telling me there was nothing wrong. I didn’t believe her, so I kept pushing and was starting to feel like it was in my head. Finally, a blood test with odd results prompted additional testing by a specialist (an oncologist) and a reason was discovered. To finally learn that there really was something wrong and that I wasn’t just imagining symptoms…well…that was a relief. Now I know what’s causing me to be so tired. Of course it opens up an entire new set of worries, but I just take it one day at a time. As of today, Feb. 17, 2009 – it looks like I’m entering remission.

Jason: What is keeping you strong?

Leesa: My faith in God – I know that whatever happens, it’ll be okay, I’ll be okay. The support of my family and friends – they help keep me focused on the positive. And laughter – I’ve tried to approach having cancer with humor.

Jason: What in the world is WOBO? How did it start?

Leesa: WOBO – Walking Our Butts Off. We were telling our friends about our decision to join Team in Training and train for a marathon. Someone said, ‘you guys will be walking your butts off’ and that’s all it took. It started as a simple website for us to use to track our fundraising progress and to blog about the experience and my health. We have family and friends spread out between numerous states and calling each of them with updates was exhausting – so the blog has come in very handy. But as we continued with our training, we realized that WOBO has the potential to become more than just our way to stay in touch with those around us. We’re still trying to figure out exactly what WOBO’s purpose is. We’ve now added Team WOBO to the mix. Team WOBO will be used to join together our friends and family and participate in various ‘team awareness events’ like March of Dimes or Relay for Life. We’ll put info up on the website with how others can join us for such events – either in person as a participant or as a financial donor. And we’re still brainstorming about the future….there are just so many possibilities.

Jason: How has walking changed your life?

Leesa: It took a cancer diagnosis to change my life. Literally. I never realized how a thing as simple as walking can have such a positive effect on you. I also have type 2 diabetes, and because of all the additional exercise – which honestly isn’t that much – I’ve seen my A1C levels go from 8% to 6.5% — my endocrinologist is very happy with me!! Plus walking just makes me feel good!! Sure it was hard at first; I had led such a sedentary lifestyle, that the first mile was hard. But after about four months….saying I’m going to go walk 8 miles seems like nothing at all.

Jason: Tell us about your husband, Craig. What is he doing to stay strong for you?

Leesa: Craig and I have been together since 1986….we married in 1992. I have more memories with him, than without him. Craig has always been the calm one – he makes sure I don’t over-react and that I try to see the positive in a situation. When I had to go back on a chemo pill and was feeling discouraged, he reminded me that it was a lower dosage and less frequent than before – he helped me see the positive. This whole experience – the cancer, the marathon training – has really taken our marriage to a new level. There are days that I am just overwhelmed by my feelings of love and appreciation for him – it’s so hard to even put into words. He most definitely blesses my life.

Jason: If someone wanted to give money to help you, what should they do?

Leesa: Log on to www.TeamWOBO.org – there’s a donation page that will list all the fundraisers we are currently doing. The links on the page go to secure sites where you can make a donation.

Leesa: I had a vague awareness before. I had heard of various events that they sponsor, but I had never had any direct contact with them.

Jason: Tell us about how the LLS is helping you?

Leesa: Right now, they’re just there for me. Whether I use their services or not, it’s good knowing that they are there. I’ve been an active participate/volunteer for a few events. I like being able to give back – guess I look at volunteering at LLS like putting into a savings account – I keep making deposits (my time as a volunteer or fundraising) and one day I may make a withdrawal (use of patient services). I know there will be a day when I need to take advantage of the assistance programs that are offered, but until then I can keep giving and helping the programs. The staff that I’ve had contact with have all been so supportive. When I call about volunteer opportunities I don’t come right out and mention that I’m a leukemia survivor…but it eventually comes out…and when it does, the atmosphere of the call changes. I can hear the compassion in their voice – it’s nice.

Jason: What advice would you give to any one that is helping to care for a Cancer Patient?

Leesa: Help them to see the positive. Don’t let them stay ‘down’ for long. Having a positive attitude even in the worst situations can be hard, but it’s so helpful and beneficial to healing. Let the patient do as much for him/herself as he/she is able. They know their limitations. Don’t be afraid to let them talk about the “what if’s” – sometimes discussing the worst case scenarios has a positive effect….because you can always turn it around and look at the best case scenarios. Learning you have cancer and dealing with it is a process. Coming to terms with it won’t happen overnight. Also, think about finding someone to talk to yourself – being a caregiver is hard work. You’re not alone either.

Leesa: Although I wasn’t able to finish the marathon [read Leesa’s post on her blog] – I had to take myself off the course due to an injury – being a part of Team In Training and getting a taste of a marathon definitely ranks in my Top 5 life experiences. It’s so hard to capture with words the experience. I highly, highly recommend signing up for at least one event at some point. It changes your life – and it’s such a positive change. My husband has already signed up for another event – the Hy-Vee Triathlon in June. I’m actually a bit jealous that I’m not able to do it with him because I see how excited and motivated he is. I’m now an alumnus for TNT and can attend any of the weekend trainings even though I’m not signed up for an event. I haven’t had a chance to do that yet, but I’m looking forward to getting back out there with my former teammates. There’s a bond that forms even in the short amount of time that we’re together. These strangers come together for a common cause – to help raise money to fund blood cancer research – they give so much of themselves for others they may never meet. I loved being an honored patient – especially one that was also able to be a participant. Like I said, it was a life-changing experience that is so hard to put into words.

Jason: What is next for you?

Leesa: I thought I knew. I had planned to do the 5K in the Olathe marathon in March, but a recent MRSA Staph infection and subsequent surgery and hospital stay put an end to my training. So right now I’m concentrating on healing. The infection was a real eye-opener. It came on so suddenly and spread so fast – it really made me mindful of how careful I need to be when it comes to protecting myself against germs and keeping healthy. But I won’t let it get me down. As soon as I’m able (or allowed by my doctor) I’ll get back out and walk – the weather is getting better and better. There’s plenty of time to train for the KC marathon in the fall. Plus….I believe another trip to do the Disney marathon next January is in the works!!

I have to first thank Penn Treaty from Philadelphia for donating a large box of phones. It was the perfect box to shoot this video with a nice mix of brand new phones and really old brick phones. What is so neat is that we can recycle all of it. Thank you Penn Treaty for supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Philadelphia.

I like Israel Lagares. I enjoy that he is genuine. I enjoy that his mission is to help people just like Cells for Cells. His other site is www.healthranker.com. When you finish watching the vid here, jump over to either of Israel’s sites.